Ski Northern California!

No, it doesn’t often snow in Milpitas, and never enough to ski, but many love to head to the Northern California slopes near Truckee, Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. Here’s our favorite nearby ski areas within about a 4-hour drive of Silicon Valley or San Francisco.

Odds are pretty good that the Sierras will see snow Thursday (Thanksgiving) and the Friday after, so some ski resorts will have open lifts and trails on the weekend of November 24, 2018.

If I missed one, please email me with the URL if you have it. Updated for the 2018-2019 ski season. Many resorts have very good deals at this time, if you want to purchase season passes for the about-to-arrive ski season.

Cheap Skiing

Sliding on the Cheap
Bargain passes to Lake Tahoe area ski resorts. A Facebook community that shares tips on how to get these discounts.

Ski Clubs

Bay Area Ski Bus
Super fun single day/multi-day trips to the major Tahoe resorts. get up, get dressed, we take care of the rest.

Blue Angels
Working with the city recreation department, The Blue Angels are offering our youth a ski and snowboard program.

Ski Resorts

Diamond Peak
Projected OPENING DAY: December 13, 2018.
At Incline Village (Upscale area) on the Nevada side of Tahoe. Guaranteed ski conditions or your money back. 30 runs, even dog passes for $3. Check Facebook and Twitter for announcements.

Donner Ski Ranch
OPENING DAY ?
If you are searching for a simpler, more relaxed ski & snowboard experience, a resort that offers everything the major resorts do, without the hassles and expense, Donner Ski Ranch is the resort Playfor you and your family. Lift status. Please call (530) 426-3635 for the most up-to-date Chair Lift Operation Status.

Homewood Mountain Resort
Projected OPENING DAY ?
Stellar views and kids 10 and under ski free (with the purchase of an adult ticket). On Tahoe’s west shore. Home of the 2000 Snowboard Junior Olympics.

Mt. Rose
OPEN TO THE TOP November 20, 2018. Check Facebook. The highest base elevation in the Lake Tahoe area. Shuttle available from Reno airport: 25 minutes from Reno. Special feature is the “Adaptive Ski School” open to individuals of all types of abilities to learn or improve skiing skills. Package includes adaptive equipment and lift ticket.

Northstar-At-TahoeOPEN NOW See link for lift status. All may not be in operation yet.
Check Facebook. Lake Tahoe’s premier year-round resort offering 2,420 acres of skiing and snowboarding. Open for golf in warm months.

Sugar Bowl
OPENING November 30, 2018.
Check Facebook. Season pass for children 5 and under includes free rentals and two 3-hour lessons. The new quad lift is a few steps off the deck of the classic Village Lodge. Check the Current conditions. It is located before Truckee. Here’s how to get there.

Achieve Tahoe, formerly Disabled Sports USA Far West
Located at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley in Lake Tahoe, California, provides instruction and adaptive equipment for hundreds of students each winter. Our experienced instructors and highly trained volunteers make skiing possible for anyone with a disability. Miniature horses are not permitted on lifts.

Heavenly
OPENED November 16, 2018
Check Facebook. Choose your own adventure at Heavenly! A mountain so big it has to be seen to be believed. And even then you won’t believe it. Diverse terrain.

Kirkwood
OPENING DAY November 24, 2018
Check Facebook. Get a group-rated season pass. Claims to have the deepest snow in north America. Noted for its fine alpine cross country skiing. From The San Francisco Bay: Use Interstate 580, State Route 205 to Interstate 5 North, Route 4 East to Route 99 North, and Route 88 East (3.25 hrs.)

Soda Springs
OPENED November 16, 2018
Check Facebook. Soda Springs operating schedule. Open from 10am – 4pm. Families can take the kids snow tubing, skiing, snowboarding, sledding and snowshoeing, all on one lift ticket. Home to one of California’s first snow tubing areas. Located just off I-80 at Donner Summit.

Plumas Ski Club
Come try skiing on brand new 12-16 foot long board skis just like the old time ski races of the 1860’s. Holds long board ski races in January. Near the Eureka Gold Mine in the historic ghost town of Johnsville, California, and the top resorts in Graeagle, north of Truckee about 40 miles. Noted for longboard skiing.

Yosemite South

Badger Pass – Yosemite Ski & Snowboard Area
OPERATING SEASON: December 14, 2018 – March 31, 2019
Check the Yosemite Park Facebook. Stay in lovely Yosemite and shuttle to the ski resort. Whether it’s a day of downhill skiing at Badger Pass or ice skating against the backdrop of Half Dome at alpenglow, the memories of winter in Yosemite will last a lifetime.

Bear Mountain Ski Resort
OPENING DAY November 23, 2018
Check Facebook. This new interactive site has been designed to bring the scene at Bear Mountain into the homes of snowboarders and skiers across Southern California and the world. Daily action photos, weekly video clips, live cams, the BS forum, live weather and current news.

Dodge Ridge Skiing and Snowboarding
OPENING DAY ?
Check Facebook. Near Emigrant Gap, so closest snow to south Bay Area. Take the easy drive up Hwy. 108 for the Closest Snow to Home. Look for our new Half Pipe located on Center Bowl. 300 ft long and 13 ft high and cut by the new Zaugg cutter.

Mammoth
OPENING NOW top to bottom.
Check Facebook. They offer snowmobiling, x-country, skiing, snowboarding and a sports school.